Shail Hada: If you take music away from me, I’ll die

His debut song, ‘Saawariya’ (‘Saawariya’) won him critical acclaim and since then Shail Hada has followed it up with equally successful numbers like ‘Tera Zikr Hai’ (‘Guzaarish’), ‘Lahu Muh Lag Gaya’ (‘Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela’) and the recently released ‘Barsan Laagi’, ‘Mera Junoon’, ‘Tung Lak’ and ‘Meherbaan’ from ‘Sarbjit’. In a quick conversation with Bombay Times, the singer reveals some lesser known truths about himself.
If not a singer and composer..
I was earlier teaching music at an academy in Mumbai so I would have been a teacher. I love imparting knowledge, share my ideas and experiences in life and in return learn a few things from the young generation to be in sync.
One song that describes you
‘Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaaye toh kya hai’ from ‘Pyaasa’ sums up my life. When a human being passes away, he doesn’t take anything with him but instead leaves behind memories. Also I feel you cannot plan your life so I always believe that just keep learning and achieve salvation through music.
An instrument that describes you
I love to play harmonium and piano but I guess it is the guitar that describes my personality and I am still learning it.
Songs on your IPod playlist
Waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam from ‘Kagaz Ke Phool’, ‘Lag ja gale’ from ‘Woh Kaun Thi’ and ‘Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaaye toh kya hai’ from ‘Pyaasa’.
A song that you’d like to recreate
I am a huge fan of Kishore Kumar. He was a flamboyant singer and left a lot of impression during my teens so I’d like to give my own version to any song of his. It is difficult to choose one but if I had to then it would be ‘Zindagi ka safar’ (‘Safar’).
Best time for riyaaz
I start my day early at around 4:30 am and do my riyaaz. I don’t really count the number of hours and practice continuously throughout the day.
An era of music that you’d love to bring back
I think every era has its own charm. I am really happy to have grown up listening to the music of 70s, 80s and I have been working for more than a decade now. I live music and that is what I love to do. If you take it away from me I’ll die.
One actor you’d like to lend your voice to
It’s my dream to sing for Amitabh Bachchan. He is a legend and a singer’s delight.

Your career’s best track
It has to be the first song of my career ‘Saawariya’. It’s magical to work with Sanjay Leela Bhansali. A song that you could have done better Every performer will say that he can always do better but if I had to select one then it has to be ‘Poore chand’ from ‘Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela’.
Songs you will never take up?

I’ll never sing songs with explicit lyrics. If my soul doesn’t permit me to do it then I won’t be able to do justice. I love to challenge myself and come out of my comfort zone. I am open to doing any kind of songs provided I am able to leave an impression on the audience.